President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had a critical discussion on Thursday about the ongoing negotiations for a hostage release and ceasefire deal in Gaza, Axios reported.
Biden has been advocating for a resolution he suggested to secure the release of Israeli captives held by the Palestinian Resistance. Despite the fact that Biden had claimed that his latest suggestion garnered Israeli approval and the disapproval of the Islamic Resistance Movement – Hamas, the actual statements and actions of both parties showed the opposite.
The latest discussions between US and Israeli officials aimed to facilitate the completion of a deal, especially after Hamas’ positive feedback, which was submitted to mediators on Wednesday.
A senior White House official told Axios that Biden told Netanyahu that “it is time to close the deal,” which would secure the release of hostages and reach a ceasefire in Gaza.
However, Netanyahu told Biden in their call that his government remains committed to ending the war on Gaza only after it achieves its war objectives. These objectives have included the complete uprooting of the Palestinian Resistance’s military capabilities and civilian governance of the Gaza Strip, among other far-fetched goals.
According to Axios, the White House believes this is a pivotal moment to move forward with negotiations and finalize an agreement, which the news website says would be a major foreign policy win for Biden, who has come under increasing criticism after a presidential debate with Donald Trump.
After receiving Hamas’ feedback on the proposed agreement, Israeli officials indicated that the latest development makes it possible to resolve key issues in Articles 8 and 14 of the proposal.
Article 8 involves the negotiation process, with Hamas reportedly agreeing to new wording proposed by the US and acceptable to “Israel”. Article 14, which Hamas wants to adjust, concerns the commitment of the US, Qatar, and Egypt to continue negotiations until a second-stage agreement is reached.
Mossad Director and leader of the Israeli negotiating team, David Barnea, is expected to travel to Doha, Qatar, to continue negotiations.
Hamas official: We have presented no formal response, but have shown flexibility
Although Western media outlets are reporting on a supposed formal response submitted by Hamas, in an interview conducted with Al Mayadeen on Thursday, Ahmed Abdul Hadi, the Hamas representative in Lebanon, highlighted critical points in the ongoing negotiations.
He emphasized that while Hamas has not presented a formal proposal, rather they have shown flexibility in discussions, particularly regarding the language of the proposal, without compromising on core issues.
Abdul Hadi also noted that mediators have reported a positive atmosphere, indicating the potential for an agreement. However, he stressed that the responsibility now lies with the occupation and the US administration to continue applying pressure on Netanyahu. Abdul Hadi said that Hamas is prepared for all outcomes, whether an agreement is reached or not, and will continue to resist if necessary.
Despite the progress, Abdul Hadi expressed distrust towards Netanyahu and the US, pointing out Netanyahu’s contradictory statements as evidence of his lack of seriousness about reaching a deal.
Source: AlMayadeen
